An audience of over 200 gathered this week for the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) annual conference at ACC Liverpool.
The main themes for this year were Attracting Investment, Encouraging High Growth Business and Investing in our Young Talent. The conference also reviewed what had been achieved during the last year, the need for truly inclusive growth and addressed the great opportunities we have for growth in the city region through our collaborative approach.
The event was once again hosted by broadcaster and Political Editor at ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Ranvir Singh, and sponsored by Typhoo Tea, DLA Piper and Quest Liverpool City Centre.
LEP Chair, Asif Hamid MBE and MD Mark Basnett opened the conference highlighting the economic growth the city region has seen in the past year alongside some of the great initiatives taking place. Central to this has been the formation of Growth Platform – an organisation jointly formed by the LEP and Combined Authority to simplify the business support landscape and deliver the City Region’s business growth and investment priorities.
Delegates also heard from Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor, Steve Rotheram, Irene Graham, CEO at ScaleUp Institute and Paul Corcoran, Deputy Chair of the LEP and Chief Executive of Agent Marketing alongside many others, including a panel of young people discussing their experiences of apprenticeships and the world of work. Six high growth businesses from each of the City Region’s 6 boroughs talked about their journey and the opportunities for the future.
Asif Hamid MBE, Chair of the LEP said: “Seeing so many of the region’s key stakeholders listen, discuss and engage together is encouraging for the future direction of economic development across the city region. Many issues were addressed, and it was inspiring hearing from enthusiastic and knowledgeable business leaders, apprentices and entrepreneurs.”
Pictured: One of the panels on stage.
Ranvir with (L-R) Mark Bousfield, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Mark Sykes, BDO UK LLP, Richard Kenyon, Everton Football Club and Julia Bradley, Peel Ports.